(A) The Board may appoint, subject to the qualifications for employment determined by the Board and approved by the Town Council, as many persons as necessary to serve in the Police Department of the town. One person shall be appointed to serve as the Police Chief. The Board may also appoint other employees that are necessary to carry on the work of the Police Department.
(B) All persons appointed to the Police Department shall be of good moral character and serve only during good behavior. The Board constitutes the “safety board” of the town for purposes of the suspension, demotion, or dismissal of any member of the Police Department. Proceedings for the suspension, demotion, or dismissal of any member of the Police Department shall be conducted in the manner prescribed by IC 36-8-3-4. The disciplinary provisions of IC 36- 8-3-4.1 shall apply to the safety board and the Police Chief.
(C) The Board may make general and special rules for the government and discipline of the Police Department and may make special and general orders to the Department, through the Police Chief, who is the executive head of the Department.
(D) Members of the Police Department must reside within:
(1) Lake County, Indiana (the county in which the Town of Lowell is located);
(2) Porter County, Indiana; Jasper County, Indiana; Newton County, Indiana; Cook County, Illinois; Will County, Illinois, or Kankakee County, Illinois (counties that are contiguous to Lake County, Indiana); or
(3) A county that is noncontiguous to Lake County, Indiana but is not more than 50 miles from the closest boundary of the Town of Lowell.
(E) The operation, management, and control of the Police Department shall be governed by the state statutes applicable to the management and control of other municipal police departments that are not inconsistent with IC 36-8-9.
(F) Members of the Lowell Police Department may exercise all powers granted to members of police departments by state statues. The members of the Police Department are entitled to all the rights, powers, and privileges granted by statute to members of police departments.
(G) The Police Commission shall review and keep current the rules, regulations and general orders of the Police Department and shall maintain copies of same on file with the Clerk-Treasurer as official records of the Department.
(Ord. 2004-07, passed 2-9-04; Am. Ord. 2021-06, passed 2-22-21)
Statutory reference:
Town police and fire residency requirement, see IC 36-8-4.5-4 (eff. July 1, 2019)